Hand puppets and nursery rhymes will be the order of service Burbage Congregational Church this weekend.

They will form part of a special playgroup service for infants and pre-school aged children and their families which will be held at the Church Street church on Sunday June 15 from 10am.

Instead of traditional hymn tunes the organist will play nursery rhyme melodies as people go into church.

During the service the church’s recently inducted minister Rev Anthony Thacker will be assisted by hand puppets in talking to the younger members of the congregation.

Young members of the Stepping Stones Playgroup, which meets at the church during the week, have been practising songs to perform.

Congregational singing will include family worship favourites He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Around three-dozen youngsters are expected to be involved, together with family and friends.

Mr Thacker said: “As our church is compact, it will feel very full!”

Burbage Congregational Church is one of 19 in the area taking part in the national Hope 2014 mission which encourages Christian churches to work together for the benefit of the communities they serve.

Mr Thacker says the playgroup service is just one example of how his own church is engaging with its community in a positive way.

It also has links with community groups as diverse as Burbage Winemakers, the Torch Trust and Burbage Heritage Goup.

Congregationalists are first recorded as meeting in a village barn back in 1671.

The first building on the current church site will be 200 years old next year, while the building now used for regular worship dates from 1895.

Sunday services start at 10am and feature a mix of traditional hymns and modern worship songs accompanied by one of three organists, prayers for those who have requested support and preaching of a Biblical message.

Mr Thacker said: “The church is congregational in that its responsibilities are conducted by the members, with decisions being taken in church meetings, and that community spirit is very much at the heart of the church’s life.

“It combines this deeply-rooted sense of tradition with engagement with the community in today’s world.”

To find out more visit www.hinckleychurches.org/burbagecongs or call Hinckley 230355.